Veteran actor Heesters quits smoking

Dutch actor and singer JOHANNES HEESTERS has quit smoking ahead of his 107th birthday in a bid to live “as long as possible”.

The star will turn a year older on Sunday (05Dec10) and he admits his love for his 61-year-old wife, German actress Simone Rethel, inspired him to kick his nicotine addiction once and for all.

Heesters, who ditched cigarettes last month (Nov10), tells Germany’s Bunte magazine, “I did it for love, for my wonderful wife. She should have me as long as possible.”

The couple wed in 1992.